57/150: Providing A Good Start: The unique parental care of Wolf Spiders

The Rustic Wolf Spider belongs to the family Lycosidae, and is known for its keen eyesight and skilled hunting. They occur in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, and scrubs across the globe. While many spiders lay their eggs and leave them be, wolf spiders will go the extra mile to protect their young. The mother encases her eggs in a silk globe, which she then hangs from her spinnerets, allowing her to keep a close eye on them. To ensure the globe doesn’t get damaged, the mother raises her abdomen to keep it off the ground. Despite their need to hold such an odd position, expecting females are still very impressive hunters! After the eggs hatch, the young spiders pack themselves onto their mother’s abdomen, where they continue to enjoy her protection for a while longer. There are 164 Rustic Wolf Spiders with barcodes on BOLD. #Canada150 #Biodiversity150

56/150: Are Moose mothers baby thieves?

56/150: Are Moose mothers baby thieves?

The second week of May begins the start of moose baby season! Baby moose clock in at approximately 30 pounds and can outrun a person within the first five days. Moose calves and their mothers bond quickly and calves are observed calling and attempting to rouse their mothers into playing (usually without success). Bulls are usually kicked out of the nest the following year, but have been recorded staying with the mother for multiple years if she is unable to get pregnant. Adult females have been observed fostering orphaned calves both in both captivity and in the wild. Things can take a turn for the sinister when females can’t get pregnant, as they may “steal” another mother’s calf and raise it as their own. In Newfoundland, the 150,000 moose recorded are descendants from just four moose that were introduced in the 1900’s. There are 18 Moose with barcodes on BOLD. #Canada150 #Biodiversity150